Table 1. Study characteristics of relevant articles identified for meta-analysis comparing mini-mitral versus conventional sternotomy approaches for patients undergoing mitral valve surgery.

Author	Year	Institution	Study Period	MIMVR (n)	Sternotomy (n)	Follow-up period (months)
Goldstone	2013	University of Pennsylvaniva, USA	2002-2011	153	153	50.4^M
Speziale	2011	Villa Azzurra Hospital & Anthea Hospital, Italy	2006-NR	70	70	12.4
Ryan	2010	Cardiopulmonary Research Science and Technology Institute, USA	1996-2008	177	177	62.4±34.8
Raanani	2010	Chaim Shebe Medical Centre, Israel	2000-2009	61	82	41±24^†; 28±22^§
Suri	2009	University of Pennsylvania (MIMVR) & Mayo Clinic (Sternotomy), USA	1999-2006	350	365	NR
Ruttman	2006	Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria	2001-2005	42	64	43.8^†; 41.8^§
Grossi	2001	New York University School of Medicine, USA	1993-1999	100	100	33

MIMVR, minimally invasive mitral valve repair; NR, not reported; M, median; ^§, sternotomy; ^†, MIMVR.